Mechanism for impregnating articles with fluidic material



m 11, 1939. E, M LLER 2,165,936

MECHANISM FOR IMPREGNATING ARTICLES WITH FLUIDIC MATERIAL Filed June 7, 1937 4 Sheets-Sheet 1 1mm I l m;

BY I

ATTORNEYS July 11, 1939. E M LL R v 2,165,936

MECHANISM FOR IMPREGNATING ARTICLES WITH FLUIDIC MATERIAL Filed June 7, 1957 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 r fi cze a INVENTOR 614 w ATRNEYS E. L. MILLER July 11, 1939.

MECHANISM FOR IMPREGNATING ARTICLES WITH'FLUIDIC MATERIAL Filed June 7, 1957 4 Sheets-Sheet 3 my NTOR 23 W ATTORNEYS v E. L. MILLER July 11, 1939.

MECHANISM FOR IMPREGNATING ARTICLES WITH FLUIDIC MATERIAL Patented July 11, 1939 i MECHANISM FOR. IMPREGNATING ARTI- CLES WITH FLUIDIC MATERIAL Edward L. Miller, Moline, 111., assignor to American Machine and Metals, Inc., New York, N. Y., a corporation of Delaware Application June 7, 1937, Serial No. 146,745

13 Claims.

The invention relates to new and useful im provements in centrifugal means for coating and impregnating articles with fiuidic materials, and for centrifugally removing the surplus fluiclic '5 material.

Objects and advantages of the invention will be set forth in part hereinafter and in part will be obvious herefrom,,cr may be learned by practice with the invention, the same being realized and attained by means of the instrumentalities and combinations pointed out in the appended claims.

The invention consists in the novel parts, constructions, arrangements, combinations and improvements herein shown and described.

The accompanying drawings, referred to herein and constituting a part hereof,v illustrate one embodiment of the invention, and together with the description, serve to explain the principles of the invention.

Of the drawings:

Fig. l is in part an elevation and in part a vertical central section of a centrifugal machine, showing articles to be impregnated in position therewithin Fig. 2 is a fragmentary section of a centrifugal showing fiuidic material being applied to articles under centrifugal pressure;

Fig. 3 is a similar view showing the fluidic material being drained off;

Fig. 4 is a similar view showing surplus fluidic material being removed centrifugally from the coated or impregnated articles;

Fig. 5 shows a somewhat different form .of mechanism;

Fig. 6 is a fragmentary vertical section of a centrifugal wherein the articles to be impregnated are contained in trays placed within the perforate basket; and

Fig. 7 is a partial plan of the mechanism shown in Fig. 6.

Objects of the invention are to coat or impregnate articles, usually of more or less porous structure, with fluidic material by applying centrifugal pressure to force the fluidic material into the articles; and to remove the surplus fluidic material by centrifugal action after the impregnation or coating is completed; and further to provide a process and facilities for practically continuous operation, interrupted only by the placement of the articles to be impregnated and their removal after impregnation. The invention provides also a mechanism capacitated and well adapted to carry out the process, and to provide for rapid and easy placement and removal of the articles, for application of the fluidic ma-- terial under centrifugal pressure, removal of the surplus fluidic material, and for like drying of the coated or impregnated articles. Further objects and advantages of the invention will be set forth hereinafter.

Referring now in detail to the embodiment of my invention illustrated by Way of example in the accompanying drawings, a. form of suspended, top-driven centrifugal is shown, having a supporting frame comprising a plurality of uprights I which support cross frame members 2. Upon the cross frames is supported a driving mechanism (l for the centrifugal, which drive may be of any known or suitable form, and need not be shown or described in detail herein. The shaft 4 of the centrifugal is supported from the frame, and is driven from the driving means by a suitable connection 5, whereby the centrifugal is given the desired whirling motion and is free to gyrate in a Well-known manner.

In said embodied form there is provided a stationary casing 9, preferably mounted upon supports H), which are preferably integral with or fixed to the machine frame, the casing being provided with a suitable draining outlet H, all of which may be of known or other suitable form. The casing 9 is preferably provided with. an inwardly-projecting, annular top plate or curb if having a central opening l3, the top of the casing being thus partly enclosed with a central aperture giving ready access to the interior of the basket.

In the invention as here exemplarily embodied, an outer imperforate basket 2| has at the bottom and center thereof a hub 22, which has an internal beveled bore which fits on the beveled lower end of the shaft 4, and is retained in position on the shaft by a lock nut 23 or other suitable looking device. The basket is of the open-bottom type, the openings 20 being provided between spider-like arms 24 extending radially from the hub 2|, and having integral therewith at their outer ends an annular flange 25 which in turn is integral with the flat imperforate bottom 26 of this outer basket. The basket has vertical, cylin drica-l, imperfcrate walls 2i and preferably a plurality of exterior reinforcing rings 28.

Mounted Within this outer imperforate basket is an inner perforate basket 34, and to position and support it, the bottom 35 thereof has a central annular opening fitting over and supported upon an annularly shouldered portion at formed at the top of the hub 22 of the outer basket. Fixed to the outer imperforate basket 2| at its top annular edge, and fitting therewithin, is an annular flange 31, and integral with this flange ring is a lip or baffle 38 which extends inwardly therefrom to form a curb or baffle. Integral with and extending downwardly from the curb 38 is an annular flange 39, and the top annular edge of the cylindrical perforate walls 40 of the interior basket 34 are bolted to the inner face of this downwardly projecting flange 39, as shown at 4|. Means are provided for introducing fluid or fluidic medium into the inner perforate basket while the centrifugal is whirling, and said means are shown herein conventionally as a pipe 42, but may be of any known or suitable form dependent upon the materials being used and the work being done.

Referring now to the particular manner of carrying out the process here illustrated, a plurality of articles a are shown in Figs. 2 to 5, more or less conventionally, as stowed within, and close to the vertical, cylindrical, perforate Wall of the inner basket 40. The centrifugal is preferably whirled with the articles in the inner basket, and thereafter the liquid or other fiuidic medium is introduced through the supply means 42, While the basket is in motion, and is supplied in sufficient quantity that it builds up against the vertical wall of the outer imperforate basket, and into and within the vertical perforate Wall of the inner basket, until it forms an approximate vertical cylinder extending from the vertical imperforate Wall of the outer basket, into the inner basket and to just outside the rim of the openings 20 in the bottom of the imperforate basket, the fluid thus surrounding all of the articles in the inner perforate basket. While the machine is thus operated the liquid or fluidic medium is restrained from outward movement by the imperforate outer basket, and the pressure due to the centrifugal action forces the liquid or fluidic medium into the articles, which are usually of porous or minutely foraminate structure.

When sufficient pressure has acted for a suflicient time to complete the desired impregnating operation, the centrifugal may be slowed down until the pressure decreases so that the liquid I will flow out through the openings 20 in the bottom of the outer imperforate basket, as shown in Fig. 3. By again speeding up the centrifugal, the inner basket will now function as an extractor basket, and the surplus liquid or fluidic medium remaining on the articles in the inner basket will pass through the perforate Wall of the inner basket and form a thin wall 1 against the cylindrical wall of the outer basket. After the surplus material has been removed from the articles, the centrifugal may be stopped, and the drained off liquid 1 will flow out through the open bottom of the imperforate basket.

A somewhat different form of mechanism which is also adapted to carry out certain steps of the herein-described process is illustrated in Fig. 5, wherein the impregnating action may be terminated and removal of the surplus fluid may be effected without slowing down the centrifugal. In this mechanism a skimmer device is shown, having a pipe 47 extending downwardly and outwardly within and underneath the baffle ring or curb 38. The inlet orifice of pipe 41 is located beneath curb plate 38 and above a curb plate 43 extending inwardly from the top edge of the inner basket. The top part of the inner basket is supported from the outer basket by a ring 44 fixed to both, the ring 44 having orifices 45 therein through which the liquid may pass up into the space between thecurbs 38 and43 and pass into the theskimmer orifice gradually outwardly, the fluid wall may be drained from the full position shown in Fig. 2 to that shown in Fig. 5, and the draining off may thereby be effected while the machine is running at high speed.

In Figs. 6 and 7 are shown means for stowing small articles within the inner basket for treatment, and for removing them therefrom after the process is completed. In said figures a plurality of trays 6| are shown, each containing a plurality of articles 62 to be impregnated. Vertical rods .1

63 may be employed as guides and positioning means for the trays within the perforate basket. The trays and articles are shown of conventional form, as the specific form of the trays and arrangement of the articles are no part of the present invention. The trays may be of perforate or Woven wire or other suitable construction and spacers may be employed, if desired, to hold the individual articles spaced apart from one an other. A steam jacket arrangement is also shown in these figures.

The invention in its broader aspects is not limited to the specific mechanisms shown and described but departures may be made therefrom within the scope of the accompanying claims without departing from the principles of the invention and without sacrificing. its chief advantages.

What I claim is:

l. A centrifugal machine including in combination an inner perforate basket, an outer im perforate article-containing basket, said outer basket being of larger diameter to provide a fluid space within said imperforate basket and exteriorly to said article-containing perforate basket, means for whirling the baskets together, means for introducing fluidic material within the inner basket, and means for withdrawing fluidic ma terial from the outer basket.

2. A centrifugal machine including in comjci nation an inner perforate basket, an outer imperforate basket, said outer basket being of larger diameter to provide a fluid space within said imperforate basket and exteriorly to said articlecontaining perforate basket, means for whirling the baskets together, means for introducing fiuidic material within the inner basket, means for withdrawing fiuidic material from the outer basket, and means for restraining outward flow of the fluidic medium to create pressure of the medium upon the articles.

3. A centrifugal machine including in combination a supporting and driving shaft, a basket mounted to rotate with said shaft and having an imperforate cylindrical wall, an article-containing basket mounted within and spaced from said first-mentioned basket and fixed to said shaft to rotate at the same speed with said shaft and basket, and having perforate cylindrical walls, means for closing the top of the space between the outer and inner baskets, means for maintaining articles to be impregnated within the perforate cylindrical wall of the inner basket, and means for supplying a fiuidic medium within the inner basket while it is rotating.

a. A centrifugal machine including in combination a supporting and driving shaft, a basket mounted to rotate with said shaft and having an imperforate cylindrical wall and a bottom opening, a basket mounted within said first-men,- tioned basket to rotate with said shaft and basket, and having perforate cylindrical walls, means for maintaining articles to be impregnated within the perforate cylindrical wall of the inner basket, and means for supporting a fluidic medium within the inner basket while it is rotating.

5. A centrifugal machine including in combination a supporting and driving shaft, a basket mounted to rotate with said shaft and having an imperforate cylindrical wall and a bottom opening, a basket mounted within said first-mentioned basket to rotate with said shaft and basket, and having perforate cylindrical walls, means for closing the top of the space between the outer and inner baskets, and means for supplying a fluidic medium within the inner basket while it is rotating.

6. A centrifugal machine including in combination a supporting and driving shaft, a basket mounted to rotate with said shaft and having an imperforate cylindrical wall and a bottom opening, a basket mounted within said firstmentioned basket to rotate with said shaft and basket, and having perforate cylindrical walls,

-. means for closing the. top of the space between the outer and inner baskets, and means for maintaining articles to be impregnated within the perforate cylindrical wall of the inner basket.

'7. A centrifugal machine including in combination a supporting and driving shaft, a basket mounted to rotate with said shaft and having an imperforate cylindrical wall, an article-containing basket mounted within and spaced from said first-mentioned basket and fixed to said shaft to rotate at the same speed with said shaft and basket, and having perforate cylindrical walls, means for closing the top of the space between the outer and inner baskets, and means for supplying a fluidic medium Within the inner basket while it is rotating.

8. A centrifugal machine including in combination a supporting and, driving shaft, a basket mounted to rotate with said shaft and having an imperforate cylindrical wall and a bottom opening, a basket mounted within said first-mentioned basket to rotate with said shaft and basket, and having perforate cylindrical walls, and means for supplying a fluidic medium within the inner basket while it is rotating.

9. A centrifugal machine including in combination a supporting and driving shaft, a basket mounted to rotate with said shaft and having an imperforate, cylindrical wall and a bottom opening, a basket mounted within said first-mentioned basket to rotate with said shaft and basket, and having perforate cylindrical walls, and means for closing the top of the space between the outer and inner baskets.

10. A centrifugal machine including in combination a supporting and driving shaft, a hwket mounted to rotate with said shaft and having an imperforate cylindrical wall, an article-containing basket mounted within and spaced from said first-mentioned basket and fixed to said shaft to rotate at the same speed with said shaft and basket, and having perforate cylindrical walls, means for maintaining articles to be impregnated within the perforate cylindrical Wall of the inner basket, and means for supplying a fluidic medium within the inner basket while it is rotating.

11. A centrifugal machine including in combination a supporting and driving shaft, a basket mounted to rotate with said shaft and having an imperforate cylindrical wall and a bottom opening, a basket mounted within said first-mentioned basket to rotate with said shaft and basket, and having perforate cylindrical walls, and means for maintaining articles to be impregnated within the perforate cylindrical wall of the inner basket.

12. A centrifugal machine including in combination a supporting and driving shaft, a basket mounted to rotate with said shaft and having an imperforate cylindrical wall, an article-containing basket mounted within and spaced from said first-mentioned basket and fixed to said shaft to rotate at the same speed with said shaft and basket, and having perforate cylindrical walls, means for closing the top of the space between the outer and inner baskets, and means for maintaining articles to be impregnated within the perforate cylindrical wall of the inner basket.

13. A centrifugal machine including in combination a supporting and driving shaft, a basket mounted to rotate with said shaft and having an imperforate cylindrical wall and a bottom opening, an article-containing basket mounted within and spaced from said first-mentioned basket and fixed to said shaft to rotate at the same speed with said shaft and basket, and having perforate cylindrical walls, means for closing the top of the space between the outer and inner baskets, means for maintaining articles to be impregnated within the perforate cylindrical Wall of the inner basket, and means for supplying a fluidic medium within the inner basket while it is rotating.

EDWARD L. MILLER.

CERTIFICATE OF CORRECTION Patent No, 2,165,956., July 11, 1959a EDWARD Lo MILLER.

It is hereby certified that error appears in the printed specification of the above numbered patent requiring correction as follows: Page 2, second column, line L Z, claim 1, strike out the word "article-containing and insert the same after "perforate" in' line l l, same claim; and that the said Letters Patent should be read with this correction therein that the same may conform to the record of the case in the Patent Office,

Signed and sealed this 26th day of September, A. D. 1959.

Henry Van Arsdalc (S l) Acting Commissioner of Patentsa 

